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Short version: What is my best way of doing this please? Ant+ or Wahoo Direct Connect? I’ll be using Wahoo SYSTM.
Longer version, still cutting it massively short, I’ve had the most difficult year of my 47 years thus far. Caring for two ill elderly parents, home visits for one with dementia, hospital visits for the other, demanding full time job has left me at my lowest ebb. Having two young awesome children hasn’t helped time wise either! A small handful of guilt laden 1.5 hour road rides (and one mtb ride) since March is not helping fitness and well-being. Soooo……
Impulsed bought a wahoo kickr at CRC for sub £500. And thought that would be that. Always spent money on winter kit instead, but realised after virtually zero riding this year, it isn’t going to change over winter, so jumped right in. However, It won’t connect to family iPad as that is too old. Our old laptop looks like it’s going to have to be Ant+ or Direct Connect to work.
Anyone with a similar set up and can offer some much welcome and appreciated input to help me turn a pedal or two in anger? 🙏
If you want to use it with TrainerRoad you don’t even need a laptop / iPad. I just connect my kickr core to my iPhone and use the app on there. Also connect a wahoo hr strap to the phone via Bluetooth and some Bluetooth headphones all at the same time. Play music via Spotify and have TR app giving instructions / controlling the turbo.
If you want to use Zwift and the laptop isn’t good for it then you could just pickup a cheap secondhand Apple TV box and connect it to a tv. Companion app on your phone alongside it.
An ant+ Dongle will be the easiest/cheapest way on the laptop, use a long usb cable so the finale is close to the trainer. Direct connect is overkill and unless you have a v6 kickr a larger extra expense. One alternative if zwifting is using the companion app on your phone (assuming it's new enough). Zwift on the pc can use companion app as a bridge to connect devices.
Thanks both. Food for thought. I was looking at about £30 for the ant+ and the longer cable? Sigma have the direct connect for £63. I have a v5 Kickr which seems compatible. I think
A quick look on Facebook marketplace throws up loads of Apple TVs for sale. £40 for a 4k one jumps out as one of the first entires near me (near Bristol).
I’ve been using trainer road for a few years now but tempted to try Zwift. My wife and daughter both have iPads but I also have a 32” tv in my garage gym so tempted to just grab an Apple TV if I decide to give it a go.
I've been using the same smart trainer for a couple of years and by far the easiest way to connect is via Apple TV connected to an old TV in the garage.
I started off using an old mobile phone and screen mirroring to a TV via a fire stick and it worked but it was patchy.
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;">I tried every cheap option I could think of but it just became frustrating when it didn't work or cut out mid ride. I was sometimes jumping on for a quick ride 20 minute ride but depending half the ride trying to resolve connection issues.</span></p>
Don't forget you need a fan, the biggest and most powerful one you can find! Remember to clean the sweat off your bike, I managed to corrode a pair of handlebars to dust!
Thanks for the tips! I am conscious of the sweat destroying things - especially expensive bits and bobs.
it’s finding some space to mount the TV in the garage. The back of the garage door may be the answer here!
Thanks everybody 🙏